Immigration

Email Updates Blogs
Starting in May 2019, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will issue I-94 numbers with letters in addition to numbers. The new format will include nine numbers, followed by one letter and one number. Current I-94 numbers also have eleven characters, but only numbers. Examples of new I-94 numbers include: 111111111A1; 000000001B2; 123456789C3. I-94s in the current number-only format will remain valid through the listed “Admit Until Date”. As a reminder, an I-94 record not…
This post is by the good folks at AsylumConnect, a web resource for LGBTQ asylum seekers. There are still 70 countries, mostly in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, where homosexual activity between consenting adults is illegal, according to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association’s latest State-sponsored Homophobia report. There are also currently six countries in which homosexuality is punishable by death. According to Amnesty International, even in countries where…
Following up on a previous report, the Department of Homeland Security forwarded a final H-2B Rule to the White House Office Of Management and Budget on April 22 (see below). Once OMB completes review, a final rule will be published in the Federal Register for implementation. Agency: DHS-USCIS RIN: 1615-AC38 Status: Pending Review Title: Exercise of Time-Limited Authority to Increase the Fiscal Year 2019 Numerical Limitation for the H-2B Temporary Nonagricultural Worker Program Stage: Final Rule Economically…
Since at least 2013, there have been efforts to make the Conrad 30 J-1 visa waiver program for physicians permanent. But that has not happened and it continues to be necessary to reauthorize the program every year. This year, Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Angus King (I-ME) and Charles Grassley (R-IA) have introduced a bill to improve and extend the program until 2021 – the Conrad State 30 and Physician …
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At McEntee Law, we frequently prepare and file O-1 and EB-1 green card cases on behalf of extraordinary clients in various industries and specialties. Our clients include the creative director of an award-winning Irish clothing line, a world class event producer, a music tech entrepreneur, an innovative green roof technology expert, a leading professional sports executive, an incredible fine artist, and a top business executive of a life-saving technology company. Extraordinary ability cases are a…
Applying for a Visa
Effective May 1, 2019, the US Embassy in Tel Aviv will begin accepting E-2 visa applications filed by Israeli citizens.  This long-awaited announcement comes close to seven years after President Obama signed legislation in 2012 implementing a bilateral investment treaty with Israel on the condition that Israel provide reciprocal immigration status for American investors.  The Israeli government did not approve the reciprocal agreement until 2014, and it took an additional four years for both the…
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DHS is apparently citing federal cannabis laws as grounds for denying citizenship. Further, USCIS announced on April 19 that the USCIS Policy Manual now clarifies that violation of federal controlled substance law, including for marijuana, remains a conditional bar to establishing good moral character for naturalization even where that conduct would not be an offense under state law. As a majority of states legalize marijuana in full or in part, conflicting state and federal…
Am I eligible for Australian permanent residency? OK let’s see… The main pathways for obtaining Australian permanent residency visas are: Skilled stream migration: General skilled migration points test based 189 visa State sponsored 190 or 489 visas Employer Nomination Scheme ENS 186 visa Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme 187 visa Family stream migration: Partner visa Parent visas Child visa Other family visa streams such as Remaining relative visa, Carer visa etc. Humanitarian / Refugee visas The…
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We assist hundreds of clients every year with the renewal of their permanent residency visas with Resident return visa applications. We can assist with both: Representing and lodging Resident return visa application on your behalf. Provide ad hoc consultation and assistance for your self-lodged Resident return visa application. We regularly assist our clients with maintaining permanent residency status via the Resident return visa, including during periods where the visa applicant needs to spend most of…
The vast majority of partner visa applications are prepared and lodged by the visa applicant and sponsor without the professional assistance of a migration agent or solicitor. When close to 90% of all partner visa applications lodged are approved according to the Department’s publicly available statistics, migration agents/solicitors claiming to have 90% or higher approval rates isn’t that impressive when put into context: Year 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 Lodged 62,996 52,177 56,333 Refused 6,689 6,190 5,799…